Live data from Hacker News

UK says Russian commanders will be held to account for war crimes

reuters.com

1–10 of 13 posts

Re: UK says Russian commanders will be held to account for war crimes

#5

I wonder what this means for military commanders in Myanmar, Israel, African countries with terrible civil wars, and in particular the United States. Will the UK begin a push to hold them accountable, too?

No post body was provided.

Re: UK says Russian commanders will be held to account for war crimes

#6
Amusingly, the British government has been trying very hard to pass legislation to protect their own commanders from war-crimes prosecutions.

https://redress.org/news/overseas-operations-bill-passes-but...

Activists managed to limit the most harmful elements of the most recent attempt at this legislation but with the current sudden lurch to the right that's going on, and a completely ineffective opposition, I don't suppose there's anything to stop them having another go at it later.

Re: UK says Russian commanders will be held to account for war crimes

#8
post #7

Earlier quoted context omitted.

In what way?

By making a potential loss much more costly.

Those commanders will be prosecuted whether or not Russia "wins" the war. (I'm using scare quotes because there is no realistic scenario that could make this war a "win", so I guess what people mean by "win" as opposed to "loss" is in this case "permanently occupying Ukraine" at an insanely high cost.)

Re: UK says Russian commanders will be held to account for war crimes

#9
post #7

Earlier quoted context omitted.

By making a potential loss much more costly.

Those commanders will be prosecuted whether or not Russia "wins" the war. (I'm using scare quotes because there is no realistic scenario that could make this war a "win", so I guess what people mean by "win" as opposed to "loss" is in this case "permanently occupying Ukraine" at an insanely high cost.)

There's a big difference between them being prosecuted while living in a Russia (or Ukraine) that won't extradite them and instead rewards them for their part in a successful war, vs. them being prosecuted and Russia no longer being willing/able to protect them from punishment. Exactly where you draw a line of what you consider a win or a loss is subjective, as is whether that line is the same as the line for are these people are at risk of facing punishment from other nations (probably not, as if Russia announced a withdrawal of all troops tomorrow it would be hard to see that as a Russia "win", yet Putin would still have enough power to protect everyone by not allowing extraditions).

Re: UK says Russian commanders will be held to account for war crimes

#10

Amusingly, the British government has been trying very hard to pass legislation to protect their own commanders from war-crimes prosecutions. https://redress.org/news/overseas-operations-bill-passes-but... Activists managed to limit the most harmful elements of the most recent attempt at this legislation but with the current sudden lurch to the right that's going on, and a completely ineffective opposition, I don't s…

And the US can invade Hague tribunal if their people are taken there https://www.wearethemighty.com/popular/us-can-invade-the-hag...

Basically is Americans are free to commit war crimes and no one can do anything about it

Post reply on HN